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Indians' patience finally ends with infielder's weak hitting despite praise for his fielding
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2008
DETROIT: It was almost inevitable that Asdrubal Cabrera would end up being demoted after his batting average dipped below .200 and continued to fall.
So on Monday, Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo and Josh Barfield, whom Cabrera replaced last August as a regular, was called up from Triple-A to become the Indians' starting second baseman.
''It was time for Asdrubal to go down and get his stroke back,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''He still is going to be a heck of an all-around ballplayer.''
Cabrera's defense, both at shortstop and second, never faltered. He made the routine plays and plays that showed up as highlights on ESPN. But he was batting .184 with seven doubles, 16 runs and 14 RBI in 52 games.
Barfield came to spring training with little chance of making the team. Tribe officials did not want to turn him into a utility infielder. He needed to play every day, thus he was sent to Buffalo, and batted .255 with 26 runs, 16 doubles, five home runs and 21 RBI in 62 games. In his past 12 games, he batted .288.
Emotionally, it wasn't easy for Barfield to remain motivated, and he doesn't pretend that he enjoyed going back to Triple-A after he thought he had established himself in his rookie season of 2006 with the San Diego Padres.
''It was hard to deal with,'' Barfield said. ''Every day I thought about getting back up here. I tried to get something out of every day, but it was cold and the stands were empty, so it was difficult to keep my ultimate goal in sight.''
Barfield didn't enjoy Triple-A, but he tried to maintain his enthusiasm and discipline.
''That was the toughest part,'' he said. ''I wanted to be here, but I was there. I still had to go out and get my work in, so I could show them I was ready to come back up.''
Barfield believes he has discovered why his offense took a nose dive last year, which began with him being a regular and ended with him as little more than a pinch runner.
''Just looking at film, I could see how I got away from a lot of the things that made me successful in the National League,'' he said.
How much will he play?
''He's going to play regularly, but I don't see him playing seven days a week,'' Wedge said.
Barfield was forced to take a circuitous route from Pawtucket, R.I., where the Bisons were playing, to get to Detroit.
''I had to drive to Providence then fly to Charlotte before I got here,'' he said. ''It took five or six hours, but it was worth the trip.''
Author, author
Paul Byrd's personal memoir, Free Byrd, is due to hit bookstores on July 1.
It is the pitcher's story in the pitcher's own words. Byrd did not have a ghost writer, having long aspired to become an accomplished writer (he took courses in college).
The book will outline Byrd's life as a pitcher and his Christian faith, and one chapter will deal with his use of human growth hormone.
He is hoping that topic does not become the focus of the book.
John Smoltz, Byrd's friend and neighbor, volunteered to write the foreword to the book, but Byrd already pointed out one flaw on the book jacket.
''Look at this,'' Byrd said, then began reading, '' 'Paul Byrd is a legend.' A legend? Where are my 300 wins. That would make me a legend.''
Surgery set
Jake Westbrook will undergo surgery to reconstruct his elbow on Thursday in Los Angeles. Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the operation.
Recovery is estimated to take between 10 and 14 months.
All-Star drop out
Travis Hafner had been running fifth among American League designated hitters, but he finally fell out of the race in this week's tabulations.
Victor Martinez remains fifth (321,063 votes) among catchers, trailing the leader, Jason Varitek (681,451). Grady Sizemore is 10th (410,465) among outfielders. Manny Ramirez (1,179,884) is the leader.
A good day
The same day that Josh Barfield was called up from Buffalo, his brother, Jeremy, agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics, who selected him in the eighth round of last week's draft.
Chance to give
The Tribe and the American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday on the plaza behind the left field area of Progressive Park. Appointments can be made by calling 800-GIVE-LIFE. Donors also can walk up without an appointment.
Donors must be at least 17, weigh no less than 110 pounds and be in generally good health. They must also bring a state-issued photo ID or a Red Cross donor card.
Farm facts
John Halama (1-0, 4.50 ERA) made his first start for Buffalo, giving up three runs in six innings, as the Triple-A Bisons beat Pawtucket 9-5. Wyatt Toregas and Chris De La Cruz each had two hits and two RBI. . . . Steven Wright gave up three runs (two earned) and nine hits in six innings as Kinston edged Myrtle Beach 5-4 in Class A. Niuman Romero homered and singled, and Beau Mills homered. . . . Roman Pena homered and doubled, driving in five runs in Class-A Lake County's 15-2 win over Hagerstown. Christopher Archer (2-6, 4.13 ERA) yielded one run, two hits and five walks in 51/3 innings. He struck out out six.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
DETROIT: It was almost inevitable that Asdrubal Cabrera would end up being demoted after his batting average dipped below .200 and continued to fall.
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